Broxton, Reds have mutually beneficial relationship

Broxton, Reds have mutually beneficial relationship

The club added a strong arm to the back end of an already robust bullpen, and Broxton gained 20-plus games in the standings and is in prime position to compete in postseason play.

As of Sunday, Broxton has only been in Cincinnati for five days, but he has already made his presence known, seeing action in three games, recording eight big outs and allowing just one hit.

"It's been a lot of fun since I've been here," Broxton said. "Everybody is upbeat, they're out there playing hard every day, and it's all we can ask for. Everybody plays hard on an everyday basis, and we'll walk away with a victory hopefully at the end of the day."

Broxton walked away to a standing ovation after his first outing with the Reds, when he pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning against the Padres, including one strikeout.

Broxton came over from a Kansas City club where he was the main closer, recording 23 saves in 35 games this season.

He's yet to record a save in Cincinnati, but he has begun making the transition as the setup man for Reds closer Aroldis Chapman -- a position he said he's growing comfortable with.

"It really doesn't matter if it's the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, whatever. They're all important outs," Broxton said. "I feel fine out there ... and there's a lot of guys that know how to pitch, especially with Chapman at the end. He's something special."

Reds manager Dusty Baker said Broxton will likely have ample opportunities to close out games for the Reds but said the additional arm, more than anything, will provide depth to a Reds bullpen that already leads the Majors with 22 relief victories and a 2.35 bullpen ERA.

"He has a real good command of the strike zone and being a closer, that means he's pretty cool under pressure," Baker said. "I think it's going to preserve some of the other guys even more down the stretch. He brings the potential in a past closer who can close out on occasion, but will also make [reliever Logan] Ondrusek stronger."